Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Program

Agency: Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice: Indian Health Service

Program Information

Program Number/Title (010):

93.445 Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Program

Popular Name (020):

IHS SFC Program

Federal Agency (030):

Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services

Authorization (040):

25 U.S.C. 13 Snyder Act, Public Law 83-568, Transfer Act, 42 U.S.C. 2001, Public Law 86-121, Indian Sanitation Facilities Act; and Title III of Public Law 94-437, Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended.

Objectives (050):

To provide essential sanitation facilities, such as safe drinking water and adequate waste disposal systems, for Indian homes and communities. The IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction Program, an integral component of the IHS disease prevention activity, has carried out those authorities since 1960 using funds appropriated for Sanitation Facilities Construction to provide potable water and waste disposal facilities for AI/AN people. As a result, the rates for infant mortality, the mortality rate for gastroenteritis and other environmentally related diseases have been dramatically reduced, by about 80 percent since 1973. The IHS physicians and health professionals credit many of these health status improvements to IHS' provision of water supplies, sewage disposal facilities, development of solid waste sites, and provision of technical assistance to Indian water and sewer utility organizations. The provision of Indian sanitation facilities is a very important component of the overall effort required to achieve a reduction in waterborne disease outbreaks, a goal highlighted in Healthy People 2020 "Topics & Objectives” for Environmental Health. Safe drinking water supplies and adequate waste disposal facilities are essential preconditions for most health promotion and disease prevention efforts, as well as being a major factor in the quality of life of Indian people.

Types of Assistance (060):

Provision of Specialized Services

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

Sanitation Facilities Construction (SFC) program provides essential sanitation facilities including water supply, sewage and solid waste disposal facilities to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) homes and communities. The SFC budget supports Indian Health Service (IHS) health priorities by providing water supply, sewage, and solid waste disposal facilities to AI/AN homes and communities. These services will implement strategies/activities to address the health disparities that exist in these areas. The funds must be expended for the specific purpose outlined in the Public Law 86-121 Arrangements. The funds must be expended for the specific purpose outlined in the Public Law 86-121 Arrangements.

Eligibility Requirements (080)

Applicant Eligibility (081):

Not Applicable.

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

Not Applicable.

Credentials/Documentation (083):

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedures (092):

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure (093):

Projects are selected from a priority list.

Deadlines (094):

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):

Not Applicable.

Appeals (096):

Not Applicable.

Renewals (097):

Funds are not recurring.

Assistance Consideration (100)

Formula and Matching Requirements (101):

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):

Average project length is 4 years. Funds are non-recurring. Obligated funds are disbursed upon receipt of approved invoices. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are disbursed upon receipt and approval of invoices for work completed.

Post Assistance Requirements (110)

Reports (111):

No program reports are required. The Director of the SFC Progam, sends a list to IHS Finance Office, which allots the specified amounts to Area Finance offices. Each Area SFC Program creates obligations for projects selected. The mechanism for allocating, allotting, obligating, invoicing, and paying is the Department's Unified Financial Management System (UFMS) which provides reports as required to those who have access to the system. IHS Finance provides weekly reports to the Department. Progress reports are due quarterly. No expenditure reports are required. Performance monitoring is conducted by the appropriate IHS staff for the performance and financial reports.

Audits (112):

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Public Law 86-121 projects are subject to inspection and audits by HHS and other Federal government officials as required by applicable law or regulation.

Records (113):

HHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of their authorized representatives, shall have the right of access to any books, documents, papers, or other records of a recipient, subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor, that are pertinent to the project in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts and transcripts. In accordance with 45 CFR 92.42, recipients are required to maintain project records 3 years after they submit their final expenditures report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues arising from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Indian Health Manual Part 5 Chapter 2; Internal Agency Procedures-- Memorandum of Agreement Guidelines Working Draft June 2003 Version 1.01; Criteria for the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program Version 1.01; Sanitation Deficiency System Working Draft May 2003; Environmental Review Manual for Indian Health Service Indian Health Manual Part 5 Chapter 2; Internal Agency Procedures-- Memorandum of Agreement Guidelines Working Draft June 2003 Version 1.01; Criteria for the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program Version 1.01; Sanitation Deficiency System Working Draft May 2003; Environmental Review Manual for Indian Health Service Programs January 2007.

Information Contacts (150)

Regional or Local Office (151) :

See Regional Agency Offices. Please see http://www.ihs.gov/locations/ for Area Office information.

Projects are selected from a priority list mandated by Public Law 94-437, as amended, in consultation with the applicable Tribe. Contact the appropriate IHS Area Office referenced above or in Appendix IV for additional information.